Computer error boosted Bush
2004-11-05 18:03
- Article Tools
- Share
- Get News24 on
Washington - A computer error involving a voting machine cartridge handed President George W Bush an extra 3 893 votes in one precinct in the key state of Ohio, The Columbus Dispatch reported on Friday.
Voters who were checking posted results noticed the problem on the website of Franklin county where the capital, Columbus, is located.
The results gave Republican Bush 4 258 votes and Democrat John Kerry 260 - in a precinct where just 638 voters cast their ballots.
Matthew Damschroeder, the county electoral chief, said Bush actually drew 365 votes to Kerry's 260, while 13 other votes went to other candidates.
Damschroder said the computer error would have been detected in verification operations in the coming weeks.
A victory for Kerry in the close presidential race would have sent Kerry to the White House.
- AFP